Improvement in endless-chain paddles for propelling



UNITED STATES ERIAH DOUGLAS, OF ALBANY, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENLI IN ENDLESS-CHAIN PADDLES FOR PROPELLING.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 3,285, dated September28, 1843. n

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, BERIAH DOUGLAS, of the city and county of Albany,and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in theMeans and Manner of Operating the Endless Chain Paddles for PropellingPurposes, which is described as follows, reference being had to theannexed drawings of the same, making part of this specilication.

Figure l is avertical longitudinal section of the machine. Fig. 2 is avertical longitudinal section of a modification of the same.

Similar letters refer to corresponding parts.

For propelling a steamboat of a medium size I place two pairs of wheelsA B seventyfive or eighty feet apart, each wheel being eight feet indiameter, the peripheries of which are adapted to the links of thechains l, which links are straight bars of iron or other strong metal,two feet long.

The chains O are extended around both pairs of wheels A B, like twoparallel bands resting on cogs or pins D, projecting from the innersides of the wheels. A paddle E, eight feet in length, is fastened onevery second link of both chains and at right angles thereto toprojecting arms F, which are Vertical when the chains are horizontal.

A third pair of wheels G, similar in form to the railroad-car wheel, isplaced midway between the wheels 'A B to depress the paddles E into thewater at that point from which they slightly incline to the surfaceunder the distant Wheels A B and make their revolutions without wastingthe motive power at their entrance and exit. v

Four pairs of wheels, as represented at Fig.

2, also operate well, one pair l-I being placed near each ofthewheelsAand B, so as to rnn the paddles into and out of the water oninclined planes, but mainly through it on a long level in a verticalposition.

The flanges of the wheels serve as guides to the chains. The whole rangeis operated by the shaft of one pair of thel extreme wheels. The otherwheels can be raised or depressed, according to the draft of water, byany desired means. There being twice as many links to each chain asthere are paddles causes them to run steadier, to be more pliant, andless liable to injuries by iioating ice and other impediments.

This machine will also answer to operate machinery by being located in awater-fall or rapid stream.

I am aware that endless-chain paddles have been soar-ranged as to cansethe paddles to leave the water on an inclined plane to avoid the usualwasting of power, this being effected by two drums of differentdiameters, and therefore it will be understood that I do not claim thisas of my invention; but, as I am enabled by myr arrangement to cause thepaddles to enter as well as leave the water on an inclined plane,

I claim as my invention- The method of effecting this by having` thechains pass around three or more drums, the inner drum or drums beingranged lower than the end drums or wheels, in the manner described.

y BERIAl-I DOUGLAS. Witnesses:

W. A. HAMILTON,

J. S. VAN VoURsT. l

